If you haven’t yet made your way to the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie to see the works of Ellarslie Open 42, this weekend is your chance.
The annual juried exhibit first held in 1982 features 124 works of art by 119 artists from the Trenton and Bucks County areas as well as throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Several of the exhibiting artists will be on hand on Saturday, August 16, at 10 a.m. for a walk-through of the museum’s galleries accompanied by a free-flowing discussion of their work, inspirations, process, and more. The cost to attend the event, which includes light breakfast fare, is $15. Registration is required by visiting ellarslie.org/eo42-talks.
The show remains on view through Sunday, September 7.
The juror for this year’s exhibit was Sheryl Liebman Fisher, associate director of Gallery Henoch in New York City. “I had the privilege of spending time with each piece, taking in the skill, passion, and sincerity that radiated from the work,” she said of her process. “In making selections, I considered not only visual strength but also how pieces might resonate together. I was drawn to works that conveyed beauty not just in the classical sense of color or form, but in storytelling, message, and technique.”
Ten of 119 exhibiting artists received awards during a reception held for the exhibit’s opening in June. Best In Show went to Lambertville-based artist and Ellarslie Open newcomer Sean Mount for his painting “Epochal Violence 10 – The Sound of Low-Flying Geese.”
Other awards winners were: Lee Johnson of Trenton, digital art award for “Jay Jackson and His Coat of Comics”; Patricia Proniewski of Hamilton, painting award for “On the Pond at Grounds for Sculpture”; Patrick Compagnucci of Trenton, photography award for “Sad Girl”; Basia Andrusko of Yardley, Pennsylvania, sculpture award for “Sunflower for Peace: Ukrainian Pysanka”; Sandra Scicchitani of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, works on paper award for the collagraph print “Water/Stone”; Elizabeth Oberman of Pennington, watercolor award for “Worthy Opponents”; Anne Bascove of New York City, mixed media award for “Ode to a Dictionary”; Bonnie Block of Magnolia, New Jersey, president’s award for the glass mosaic “Winter Reflections”; and Robert Cuff of Delanco, New Jersey, installation award for the painting “4 Friends.”
The show’s 124 pieces were selected from 500 pieces that were entered. In addition to the 124 exhibiting pieces there are some 100 more flat portfolio pieces by exhibitors and finalists. All exhibiting pieces and portfolio pieces are available for purchase.
Ellarslie Open 42, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton. On view in person and online through September 7. Artists’ talk Saturday, August 16, 10 a.m. Museum hours are Thursdays through Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free but donations are welcomed. www.ellarslie.org or 609-989-1191.
